Life-raft.



L, W. MYERS.

LIFE RAFT.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 17. IBIS.

1,229,123, Patented June 5, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Inventor h A in" Attomeys L. W. MYERS.

LIFE RAFT- APPLICATION FILED OCT-17; I916- L g lg o Patented June 5, 1917.

v 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- L0 W M 9675.

Witnesses Inventor m: NORRIS FEIERS cu. PHOm-LITNLL WASHINum". u. c.

LORING WILLIS MYERS, OF LUBEC, MAINE.

LIFE-RAFT.

Application filed October 17, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LORING lViLLIs Mrnns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lubec, in the county of Washington and State of Maine, have invented a new and useful Life-Raft, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to rafts, and aims to provide a raft of novel and improved construction capable of sustaining a large number of persons in the event of a shipwreck or other marine disaster.

It is the object of the invention to provide a life raft embodying a novel assemblage of the component elements, whereby the raft is particularly efficient for its intended purposes, the structure being simple and comparatively inexpensive, and possessing a high degree of utility.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the com bination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of the raft.

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 22 of Fig. 4:.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the mannerof assembling the parts of the raft, said parts being separated.

Fig. l is a plan view of the raft, with the deck or cover and corresponding parts removed to show the framework.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided a skeleton frame providing a cellular structure, and embodying the parallel longitudinal boards 2 and the parallel trans verse boards 3 set on edge and interfitting one another, as seen in Fig. 4. The boards 2 and 3 interfit one another, being provider with slots 4 for receiving the companion boards or frame members. The ends of the frame 1 are rounded, and the central or median longitudinal member 2 has its ends projecting,as at 5, to provide pointed ends for the raft, which is a double ender.

It is preferable to construct the members 2 and 3 of wood, to add to the buoyancy of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 5, 1917.

Serial No. 126,143.

the raft, although any suitable material can be employed.

Side plates 6 of sheet metal or other suitable material eXtend along the sides of the frame and their end portions are bent inwardly to conform to the ends of the frame, the .ends of the plates 6 being riveted or otherwise secured, as at 7, to the projecting ends 5 of the member 2.' Metallic straps 8 extend along the sides of the raft intermediate the edges of the plates 6 and bear against the outer surfaces of said plates, the ends of the straps 8 being riveted or otherwise secured to the ends 5 of the member 2, the same as the plates 6. The straps S serve to reinforce the plates 6. Top and bottom plates 9 fit against the upper and lower portions of the frame 1 and are of a shape to fit snugly within the side plates 6 whereby to inclose the frame in connection with the side plates. The upper and lower edges of the side plates project beyond the plates 9, and are provided with apertures 10 through which a cable or other flexible element 11 is threaded back and forth across the outer surfaces of the plates 9, the ends of said cable being knotted or otherwise held in place. The cables provide means whereby the occupants of the raft can hold onto the cable above the deck. The raft is reversible so that either plate 9 being uppermost will provide the deck, while the opposite plate 9 provides the bottom of the raft, and the plates 6 in projecting above the deck provide bulwarks.

Floats 12 are fitted in the cells of the frame 1, and may either be solid blocks of buoyant material, or hollow tanks, whereby the raft is capable of sustaining a large number of persons, the floats being held within the same by the plates 9.

Certain of the cells can be used for holding tanks 13 which contain food and water for the occupants of the raft, and the plates 9 can be provided with removable covers 14-, whereby access to the food and water tanks can be had.

The raft can be supplied with an equipment of oars, masts, sails, and the like, and the edge portions of the side plates 6 are provided with notches 15 providing oar locks to receive the oarswhereby the occupants can row the raft in either direction. The plates 9 and frame 1 are provided along the longitudinal median line of the raft with sockets 16 for receiving masts, whereby the sails can be supported, and the sails can also be used as a covering for protecting the occupants in the event of unfavorable weather. Oar locks 17 are carried by the frame at the opposite ends thereof, for receiving oars which are used as rudders for steerin the raft.

Towing links 18 are engaged with the ends 5 of the member 2 for the attachment of a towing line. It will also be noted that the ends 5 of the member 2 in projecting beyond the side plates 6 will provide bufiers, which in contacting with a ship or other object will prevent injury to the raft, since the strain will be transmitted to the frame without damage.

Cables 19 can bethreaded inwardly and outwardly through apertures in the straps 8, to provide hand holds which can be grasped by persons in the water, in order that they can be rescued or save themselves.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is l. A raft embodying a cellular frame, floats in the cells thereof, side plates extending along the sides of the frame and attached to the ends thereof, upper and lower plates fitting against the frame within the edge portions of the side plates, the edge portions of the side plates projecting beyond the second mentioned plates, and means carried by the edge portions of the side plates and extending across the second mentioned plates.

2. A raft embodying a cellular frame, floats in the cells thereof, side plates extending along the sides of the frame and attached to the ends thereof, upper and lower plates fitting against the frame within the edge portions of the side plates, the edge portions of the side plates projecting beyond the second mentioned plates, and a flexible element threaded back and forth through the edge portions of the side plates across the second mentioned plates.

3. A raft embodying a cellular frame having a central longitudinal member with projecting ends, floats in the cells of the frame, and side plates extending along the sides of the frame and having their end portions fitting the ends of the frame and attached to the ends of said member.

4. A raft embodying a cellular frame having a central longitudinal member with projecting ends, floats in the cells of the frame, side plates extending along the sides of the frame and having their end portions fitting the ends of the frame and attached to the ends of said member, and upper and lower plates fitting against the frame within the edge portions of the side plates.

5. A raft embodying a cellular frame having a central longitudinal member provided with projecting ends, side plates extending along the sides of the frame and having their end portions fitting the ends of the frame and secured to said projecting ends of said member, upper and lower plates fitting the frame and disposed snugly within the edge portions of the side plates, said edge portions of the side plates projecting be yond the upper and lower plates, and flexible elements threaded back and forth through the edge portions of said side plates across the upper and lower plates.

6. A raft embodying a frame, side plates extending along the sides thereof and attached to the ends thereof, upper and lower plates fitting the same and fitted snugly within the edge portions of the side plates, said edge portions of the side plates projecting beyond the upper and lower plates, and means engaging said edge portions of the side plates and extending across the second mentioned plates.

In testimony that I. claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses:

BEEN A. Davis, C. L. HoLMns.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

